Do you believe in fate? Shortly after I registered and paid for my blog domain name I started seeing twitter mentions of Blogjam 2015, the first blogging conference being held in Atlantic Canada! It was being held on a Sunday, was free to register and seemed like fate that it was happening at the same time I was beginning to really think about starting to blog.
So, I left the house at 7:00am on a Sunday in early October and headed out not knowing a soul who was going to this, but did recognize some of the presenters through their online accounts. It was held at the Marriott Halifax, and for a first time conference was extremely well run. I can honestly say that I enjoyed and got something out of all the presentations I attended. My only regret was missing some of the others because frankly they all sounded amazing. (you had to pick 1 out of 3 for each time slot) As with most conferences, a huge benefit was the networking. After a panel session with 3 women/”mom” bloggers, I went right up to them on our next break and just started asking some questions. It was fascinating to meet some of these women and hear and see what they are doing online.
It’s not easy to locate “local Nova Scotian bloggers”. I know…I have tried! I like to support local and that included bloggers, but I can only think of a handful that I know and follow. I recognized Krista Butler from Food Savvy right away from her bangs. No joke! I am one of her email subscribers and have left feedback for her before when she asks for it. http://befoodsavvy.com/blog/ Taken from her About page, Food Savvy exists to show how simple, healthy choices in your day-to-day life amounts to a life that you love. Krista has a really unique voice in the eating healthy world, which I find refreshing. She also has an interesting sign up program on right now called Make Love in the Kitchen…seriously…don’t you want to check that out? 😉
Some of the other bloggers I either chatted with, attended sessions by, or “stalked”…I mean “checked out”…when I got home were:
Lori at Farm Fresh Style
Laura at My Life in the Sun
Colleen from Curtains are Open
Heather who runs Mmm is for Mommy
Laura who blogs at Mommy Miracles
Jody from Mommy Juiced
Kim at Co-Pilot Mom
Without Blogjam I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to “find” some of these people. Lots of different voices, putting themselves out there and presenting in their own ways. I so appreciate the organizers for putting this on, and am looking forward to attending the next one…as a local Blogger. Thanks Blogjam for helping me finally take the leap!
So glad you enjoyed it. (We LOVE getting feedback.) I agree that it was sometimes hard to choose between sessions….but having too much great content is not a bad problem to have, right? See you at BlogJam 2016? 🙂
Having too much good content…at a first time conference…definitely not a bad thing! I’m already looking forward to Blogjam 2016! Thanks again to the team that put the time into this.
It was great meeting you and once again, realizing what a small world we really live in 🙂
Telling my daughter I met Mrs. Strong’s Aunt was very fun at the end of that day. Have a great day Heather!
I was really great to meet you! I am looking forward to the next blogging get-together. It is always great to meet other bloggy folks!
Kim are you related to Jay Steele? I suspect you may be….Colinda is one of my husbands cousins. 🙂
BlogJam was awesome for networking!! Can’t wait for next year!
The presentations were fantastic but having time to meet (and ask questions!) of other bloggers was so valuable! I’m so glad we got a few minutes that day Lori. After hearing your presentation…I knew I had found “my people”. 😉
It was SO good meeting you. I had no idea you were a newbie and didn’t know anyone. Way to insert yourself and network properly! 🙂 You rock!
Are you in the Halifax Bloggers Facebook group? Could be another way to network! Let me know if you’re not and I’ll try to get you hooked up. 🙂
Thank you Laura! I would love some help getting connected to the Halifax Bloggers Facebook group!
Good luck Jen! I look forward to reading your posts!